2022 CCHS Forensics Society Successes
The Central Catholic Speech and Debate team has seen many successes this season, including a record number of students qualifying for the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Tournament.
18 students qualified for the 2022 Pennsylvania High School Speech League Tournament, a record number for the Central Catholic Forensics Society. In addition, the team took home the District 16 team championship for the second year in a row.
The following students qualified to the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Championship Tournament:
- Declan Reilly, '22 - Commentary Speaking
- Fiorente Pampena, '22 - Informative Speaking
- William Scott, '23 - Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Benjamin Wingerter, '24 - Poetry
- Jack Sabo, '23 & Noah Hudson, '23 - Public Forum Debate
- Michael Murphy, '24 & Michael Brienza, '24 - Public Forum Debate
- Oscar Heller, '22, & Parker Osth, '22 - Policy Debate
- Luka DePasquale, '24 - Poetry
- Dominic Passafiume, '22 - Prose
- Xavier Ramirez, '23 - Extemporaneous Speaking
- Santino Balistreri, '25 - Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Eric Fredette, '22 - Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Amari Smith, '23 - Dramatic Performance
- Matthew Evans, '25 - Poetry
6 students qualified for the National Catholic Forensics League Grand National Tournament on Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C.
- Dom Passafiume, '22 - Dramatic Interpretation
- Fiorente Pampena, '22 - Informative Speaking
- Parker Osth, '22 and Oscar Heller, '22 - Policy Debate
- Amari Smith, '23 - Dramatic Interpretation
- Luka DePasquale, '24 - Oral Interpretation
6 students qualified for the Tournament of Champions (TOC) at the University of Kentucky in April. The TOC is the top forensics competition that is held every year.
- Dom Passafiume, '22
- Fiorente Pampena, '22
- Amari Smith, '23
- Ben Wingerter, '24
- Luka DePasquale, '24
- Matthew Evans, '25
Tournament Results
48th Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament Results:
Fiorente Pampena, '22 made it to the octofinals (top 32) in Dramatic Interpretation at Harvard University’s speech and debate tournament. Luka DePasquale, '24 was also an octafinalist in Program of Oral Interpretation.
Upper St Clair Three Rivers NIETOC (National Individual Events Tournament of Champions) Results:
- Oscar Heller, '22 & Parker Osth, '22 - 3rd place in Policy Debate
- Amari Smith, '23 - 3rd place in Dramatic Interpretation
- Dominic Passafiume, '22 - 4th place in Dramatic Interpretation
- Xavier Ramirez, '23 - Semifinalist in Extemporaneous Speaking
- Fiorente Pampena, '22 - 4th place in Informative Speaking
- Eric Fredette, '22 - Octafinalist in Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Luka DePasquale, '22 - 1st place in Poetry, and earned a bid to the Tournament of Champions.
- Amari Smith, '23 - 1st place in Poetry and earned a bid to the Tournament of Champions.
- Luka DePasquale, '23 - 3rd place in Program of Oral Interpretation, and earned a bid to the Tournament of Champions.
- Dominic Passafiume, '22 - 2nd place in Prose
Pittsburgh Catholic Forensic League Diocesan Qualifiers:
- Amari Smith, '23 - 3rd place in Dramatic Performance and qualified for the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament.
- Dominic Passafiume, '22 - 4th place in Dramatic Performance and qualified for the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament.
- Xavier Ramirez, '23 - 7th place in Extemporaneous Speaking and named 1st alternate to the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament.
- Santino Balistreri, '25 - 8th place in Lincoln Douglas, and named 2nd alternate to the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament.
- Fiorente Pampena, '22 - 2nd place in Original Oratory, and qualified to the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament.
- Oscar Heller, '22 & Parker Osth, '22 - Qualified for the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament in Policy Debate.
